Newspaper veterans among likely candidates for top ABC job

Two former senior Fairfax Media editors, a state library executive and the current acting managing director are all expected to be in the running to take the top job at the ABC after Ita Buttrose was announced as chairman on Thursday.

Media sources have speculated that the candidates for managing director at the public broadcaster could include Darren Goodsir and Peter Fray - who both previously worked as editor in chief of The Sydney Morning Herald - and State Library of Victoria chief executive Kate Torney. Current acting managing director David Anderson has publicly indicated his plans to apply.

The ABC board is expected to move quickly to choose a new managing director now the government has chosen Ita Buttrose as the public broadcaster's chair. Credit:AAP

The Sydney-based role, worth nearly $1 million a year, has been vacant since Michelle Guthrie was sacked from the job in September followed by chairman Justin Milne’s resignation after revelations he had encouraged her to sack journalists the government didn't like.

The ABC's directors were waiting for the government to find Mr Milne's replacement before selecting a new managing director - who is chosen by the board - and are expected to move quickly to review applicants now Prime Minister Scott Morrison has chosen Ms Buttrose as the new chairman.

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Applications for the managing director role closed on Friday after two weeks of advertising.

Executive recruitment firm Spencer Stuart, on behalf of the ABC, sought a strong leader to fulfil the “function of editor-in-chief" and to have "ultimate editorial authority and responsibility for all content published".

The recruiters were specifically looking for applicants with “success as a compelling and financially astute CEO with experience reporting to a board of a complex organisation” and “ideally” a background in content, according to the public advertisement.

Ms Buttrose's comments on Thursday, that the public broadcaster needed “stability”, have strengthened a widely held expectation that ABC director of entertainment Mr Anderson, who is acting managing director, is the frontrunner to keep the job.

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An ABC source said he would be a “sensible pick” for the public broadcaster having worked at the ABC for almost 30 years. However, some media sources said his length of employment could be seen as a weak point as could his lack of practical experience commissioning journalism content or as a reporter.

Mr Anderson, who has been public with his intention to hold onto the job, missed out to Ms Guthrie in 2015 and sources describe him as a “safe pair of hands” who is well-liked by his colleagues.

An external contender is Mr Goodsir, former editor in chief of The Sydney Morning Herald and current chief communications officer at the University of NSW. Mr Goodsir declined to comment, however those close to the former Fairfax manager say he is likely to have put in an application.

Another ex-Herald editor in chief, Mr Fray, is also speculated to be in the running. He is a former deputy editor of News Corp’s The Australian and is currently the co-director of UTS' Centre for Media Transition. Mr Fray declined to comment about whether he had applied but said he would be "honoured to be interviewed for the role".

Multiple sources have suggested that State Library of Victoria boss Ms Torney, a former director of news at the ABC and a broadcast reporter for two decades, would be an “obvious choice” but were not sure she wanted the job. Ms Torney declined to comment.

Former SBS managing director Michael Ebeid has also been widely mooted as a well-qualified possibility, having spent more than seven years at the smaller taxpayer-funded broadcaster. However, Mr Ebeid took up a role as head of enterprise for Telstra in October and a spokesman for the telecommunications company said he was not a candidate for the ABC role.

Similarly, Peter Tonagh – head of the recent SBS and ABC efficiency review – has attracted speculation he could be a candidate but the ex-Foxtel boss said he did not apply.

Media sources said former News Corp Australia chief Kim Williams and ex-managing director of community publishing at News Corp Australia Brett Clegg - both candidates for the job in 2015 - were not interested in the role.